(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) A supremely confident Chelsea notched a club record 12th consecutive league win on Monday to move nine points clear at the top of the Premier League, two goals from Pedro and one from Eden Hazard giving them a 3-0 victory over Bournemouth.
It took the energetic Pedro until the 24th minute to score, set up by Cesc Fabregas after jinking interplay between the Spanish players, Hazard, Willian and Nemanja Matic. He deftly lofted the ball over Artur Boruc, stranded in the Bournemouth goalmouth.
That was @hazardeden10's 50th Premier League goal! ?? pic.twitter.com/Ni0w75SnDM
- Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 26, 2016 Captain Simon Francis brought down a sashaying Hazard in the Bournemouth area in the 49th minute and the Belgian converted the penalty for his 50th Premier League goal. Chelsea, who have conceded only two goals on their winning run under Antonio Conte and scored 27, added the third in stoppage time when Pedro's surging run ended with the ball deflected into the goal.
Manchester United stretched their unbeaten run to 11 games in all competitions after Daley Blind, in-form striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and substitute Henrik Mkhitaryan gave them a 3-1 home win over Sunderland on Monday.
Left back Blind fired United ahead with a crisp 39th-minute shot after Ibrahimovic teed him up perfectly. The towering Swede doubled the lead with a clinical 82nd-minute finish for his 17th goal of the season.
A goal (obviously) and two assists - @Ibra_official is today's #MUFC Man of the Match! pic.twitter.com/7ex047SPCU
- Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 26, 2016 Fit-again Mkhitaryan put the icing on the cake with a spectacular backheel effort after a sharp Ibrahimovic cross from the right, although television replays suggested the Armenian was marginally offside. Striker Fabio Borini gave Sunderland fans something to cheer with a dipping late volley.
The result left United, who also celebrated their fourth successive Premier League win, in sixth place on 33 points from 18 games. Sunderland, managed by United's former boss David Moyes, remained 18th.
Some very big numbers from Granit today ??#AFCvWBA pic.twitter.com/Ztdf4itAGr
- Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) December 26, 2016 Olivier Giroud made the most of his first league start of the season by heading Arsenal to a 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion on Monday and avoiding a third game without victory for Arsene Wenger's side. Goalkeeper Ben Foster had repeatedly frustrated the hosts in a dominant second-half display but France international Giroud finally found a way through by nodding Mesut Ozil's arched cross beyond him in the 86th minute.
Giroud's fourth league goal of the season lifted Arsenal third in the standings, level on 37 points with Liverpool who play Stoke City on Tuesday, but they are still nine behind leaders Chelsea.
Arsenal came alive after the break following a timid first-half display but kept coming up against the heroic Foster, who denied Alex Iwobi and Alexis Sanchez, who also rattled the post.
Palace TV spoke to Sam Allardyce, Scott Dann and Yohan Cabaye after today's draw.
Watch the videos on https://t.co/TTogt6KZzQ now! ???? pic.twitter.com/0Yt4cSmFOg
- Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) December 26, 2016 Crystal Palace began life under Sam Allardyce with a 1-1 draw at Watford on Monday though they could easily have won an evenly-balanced game but for a missed Christian Benteke penalty. Palace had the best of the first half and went ahead after 26 minutes when Andros Townsend's incisive run and neat inside pass set up Yohan Cabaye to score.
The visitors missed the chance to double the lead 10 minutes later when Heurelho Gomes saved a softly-struck Benteke penalty that he had given away himself when hacking down the striker. Both sides then looked happier to hold on to a point than risk going for all three and for Allardyce, in particular, it was a frustrating start.
"That was two points dropped for me," he told Sky Sports. "In some ways it was encouraging, away from home in my first game but on the balance of chances created it should have been a victory."
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